Architectural continuity with Weber

Versailles preserves the splendours of its historic buildings

Old buildings or historic monuments must always be seen within the context of their urban environment. The chateau at Versailles has set the tone for the town's entire urban planning, creating a highly coherent whole.

In harmony with local Versailles earth

A certain number of criteria had to be respected when planning the restoration of the facades in Versailles. First of all, the renderings had to be compatible with the formulations used when the buildings were originally built. Versailles buildings were traditionally faced using coarse plaster mixed with hydrated lime whitewash and a little mortar. One of two finishing techniques was generally used: either a whitewash coloured with local Versailles earth (producing ochre and orange yellow tones), or adding colour to the whole mixture when the facade had an imitation brick finish.

These ranges of specific colours are therefore based on the local geology and called for a highly sophisticated response from the industrial specialists when the restoration was being planned. Furthermore, restoration can be carried out on the building's surface layer, on its structural rendering or on the stone used to build it. The challenge therefore is to be able to benefit from a range of products and techniques capable of covering all these types of restoration.

The town's metamorphosis

As a result of the research carried out by the consultant architect on the origins of the buildings in Versailles, the construction techniques used for each one of them were all identified, making a particularly detailed renovation of the facades possible. The research also enabled Weber to develop a range of six product families, covering everything from primers and decorative renderings to mortars for stonework restoration and whitewashes. This comprehensive range meant all the specialists involved in the renovation work (architects, contractors, etc.) could be offered a solution corresponding to their choice and way of working. It enabled the town to undergo a real metamorphosis as a result of individuals' determination to preserve the old buildings as well as contractors' expertise, but above all the wide range of new products available for renovating the facades.

Photo: ©Jacques Lebar / Porter Novelli